“What Call of Duty Used to Be Like” New WWII Shooter The Defiant Sparks OG COD and Medal of Honor Vibes
Classic World War II shooters used to define the first person shooter conversation, long before modern era trendlines reshaped the genre’s pacing, structure, and expectations. Now, upcoming WWII shooter The Defiant is tapping directly into that nostalgia loop, with early reactions calling it the kind of cinematic campaign experience that feels like what Call of Duty used to be like, with strong echoes of the older Medal of Honor era.
Developed by Hoothanes and published by 4Divinity, The Defiant is positioned as a single player narrative driven FPS set during World War II, but it is not taking the usual Western front framing. Instead, players step into the role of Chinese soldiers fighting in China’s War of Resistance against Japan, aiming to deliver a perspective and tone that is still underrepresented in mainstream historical shooters.
The first big wave of attention is coming from a newly debuted gameplay trailer, with viewers highlighting the classic rhythm of grounded set pieces, cinematic framing, and a campaign forward identity that prioritizes story pacing rather than live service retention loops.
While story specifics are still limited, another gameplay video description posted on the developer’s channel frames the core pillars as battlefield immersion, tactical gunplay, gritty realism, and character driven storytelling.
What matters most for the audience The Defiant is attracting is not only the setting, but the promise of a curated campaign that respects player time. Many modern shooters are built to maximize long term engagement through multiplayer seasons, progression ladders, and ongoing monetization systems. There is nothing inherently wrong with that model, but it has left a gap for players who miss the older style of tightly directed missions, scripted intensity spikes, and narrative payoff that you can complete without signing up for a multi year grind.
It is also worth noting the market context. Multiplayer focused historical shooters like Hell Let Loose, and upcoming projects like Brass Rain, already serve players who want large scale teamwork and persistent combat theaters. If The Defiant can land its moment to moment feel and deliver on its campaign tone, it could become a strong alternative for players who want historical immersion with a story backbone, without the obligation of ongoing live service commitment.
For now, The Defiant is confirmed for PC and consoles, but a clearer release window has not been shared yet. Based on the response to these early looks, it is absolutely a title to monitor if you want a modern fidelity WWII shooter that aims to recapture the campaign DNA many FPS fans grew up on.
Do you want more WWII shooters that focus on a story driven campaign like the classics, or do you prefer the modern multiplayer and live service approach that dominates the genre today?
